Gambia: Veep Says Health Is a Priority for National Development[Daily Observer]The vice president and Women's Affairs minister has again described health as the first priority before any other human activity, underscoring that this is the reason why President Jammeh has placed high emphasis on the health sector for sustainable development. Her Excellency Aja Dr. Isatou Njie-Saidy was speaking Thursday morning at her office at State House during a meeting with a seven-member medical personnel from the Humanity Fist International-UK and their Gambian counterparts. The health team, comp (Source: AllAfrica News: Health and Medicine)Source: AllAfrica News: Health and Medicine - November 15, 2013 Category: African Health Source Type: news

Gambia: Mercy Ship Prepares Gambia Surgery[Daily Observer]A fact-finding mission comprising of four medical officials from the Mercy Ship Monday arrived The Gambia to prepare the grounds ahead of a planned free medical surgery of cleft lip and palate, expected to be carried in March, next year, by a team of 30 medical practitioners from the humanitarian vessel. (Source: AllAfrica News: Health and Medicine)Source: AllAfrica News: Health and Medicine - November 6, 2013 Category: African Health Source Type: news

Gambia: Second Chance Holds Final Campaign Against Smoking and Drug Abuse[Foroyaa]The Second Chance, The Gambia, held its eighth and final awareness campaign against smoking and drug abuse at Father Farrell Hall at Westfield on Friday, 25 October, 2013. The event was part of the series of awareness raising activities they have undertaken with funding from the US Embassy in The Gambia. In his welcoming remarks, Mr. Joseph Hassan, the Executive Director of Second Chance, The Gambia, expressed happiness that the program has finally come to a successful end. He said they had embarked on suc (Source: AllAfrica News: Health and Medicine)Source: AllAfrica News: Health and Medicine - November 1, 2013 Category: African Health Source Type: news

Gambia: Vendors Unhappy With Uncollected Rubbish Heap At SandikaThis reporter visited the site of the rubbish heap on October 26 , 2013, and saw the heap of rubbish was still piled up at the said site uncollected. One Fatoumatta Manneh, a vendor at the busy market, expressed their dismay that the authorities have not cleaned up the rubbish since the Tobaski feast. "We used to eat near the heap of rubbish and yo (Source: AllAfrica News: Health and Medicine)Source: AllAfrica News: Health and Medicine - November 1, 2013 Category: African Health Source Type: news

Gambia: Bansang Resident Raises Concerns Over Drinking Water[Foroyaa]On Tuesday, 22nd October, 2013, a resident of Bansang walked into the offices of the Foroyaa to lodge a concern regarding the poor quality of drinking water provided by the National Water and Electricity Company (NAWEC) for Bansang for the past years. Mr. Jallow who brought along a sample of the water from Bansang that looked murky said he has been resident in Bansang for the past one year or so and he has found the people of Bansang consuming what he described as 'red' water which he thinks is unfit for h (Source: AllAfrica News: Health and Medicine)Source: AllAfrica News: Health and Medicine - November 1, 2013 Category: African Health Source Type: news

Gambia: Gambia Observes Global Hand Washing Day[Foroyaa]The Gambia joins the international community to commemorate Global Hand-washing Day, which is observed globally each year on October 15. Global Hand washing Day (GHD) is a campaign to motivate and mobilize millions around the world to wash their hands with soap and water at critical times especially after using the toilet and before eating. The campaign is dedicated to raising awareness on Hand washing with soap as a key approach to disease prevention. According to the statement issued by the Ministry of H (Source: AllAfrica News: Health and Medicine)Source: AllAfrica News: Health and Medicine - November 1, 2013 Category: African Health Source Type: news

Gambia: Health Workers Trained On Rapid Diagnostic Test[Daily Observer]Crr -The Central River Regional Health Management Team recently concluded a three-day training workshop for village health workers on the use of the Rapid Diagnostic Test (RDT), which closing ceremony was held at the Regional Health Resource Centre in Bansang, Upper Fulladu West district. The Global Fund, through the National Malaria Control Program (NMCP), funded the training. (Source: AllAfrica News: Health and Medicine)Source: AllAfrica News: Health and Medicine - October 28, 2013 Category: African Health Source Type: news

Gambia: MRC Celebrates Continuous Partnership With Stakeholders[Foroyaa]The Medical Research Council (MRC) and its partners, namely the government of the Gambia and the Fajikunda community, gathered on Tuesday, 8th October 2013 at the Fajikunda Health Center to discuss the achievements registered in the course of their collaboration with the partners and to highlight upcoming developments.In his welcoming remarks, Professor Tumani Corrah, Director MRC Unit, The Gambia, spoke about the real partnership between his institution and the Gambia government which, he said, has been i (Source: AllAfrica News: Health and Medicine)Source: AllAfrica News: Health and Medicine - October 10, 2013 Category: African Health Source Type: news

Gambia: 2nd Round of Polio Vaccination Slated for October 25-28[Foroyaa]The second round of Polio immunization campaign is slated for 25 to 28 October 2013. The immunization program which is meant for children from 0 to 5years according to officials of the Directorate of Health Promotion will target about 401, 299 children across the country irrespective of their immunization status. The Director of Health Promotion, Modou Njie said for them to reach the target of 401, 299 children during the period, they need the active participation of the media. He said they will be going f (Source: AllAfrica News: Polio)Source: AllAfrica News: Polio - October 9, 2013 Category: Infectious Diseases Source Type: news

Gambia: MOHSW to Begin Nationwide Polio Campaign[Daily Observer]The Ministry of Health and Social Welfare in collaboration with the United Nations Children's Fund, (UNICEF) Centre for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), World Health Organisation (WHO) and the Rotary International, will embark on a second Nationwide National Immunization Days (NIDS) from the 25- 28th October 2013. It would be recalled that the first round of the National Polio Campaign was conducted in May this year. (Source: AllAfrica News: Polio)Source: AllAfrica News: Polio - October 8, 2013 Category: Infectious Diseases Source Type: news

Gambia: 'Gambia's Malaria Incidences Drop to 81 Percent'[Daily Observer]The minister of Transport, Works and Infrastructure, and National Assembly Matters, has disclosed that malaria incidences in The Gambia have been reduced to 81% with admissions to hospitals also dropping to 71%. Speaking Monday at the National Assembly chambers in Banjul, Bala Garba Jahumpa, who was previously the Health and Social Welfare minister, also declared that malaria-related deaths have also dropped to 90%, crediting the gains to the Gambian leader's attachment to the wellbeing of the citizenry. (Source: AllAfrica News: Health and Medicine)Source: AllAfrica News: Health and Medicine - October 4, 2013 Category: African Health Source Type: news

Gambia: Media Is Key to Tackle Tobacco Use[Foroyaa]The ministry of health and social welfare is working in partnership with the world lung foundation, an international organisation working in the area of tobacco control had a media briefing with the media practitioners on how and why it is important to advocate for tobacco control in the country. With this partnership, the foundation will be providing technical assistance to the Gambia for the implementation of articles 11 and 12 (media campaign and pictorial warning) of the framework convention on tobacco (Source: AllAfrica News: Health and Medicine)Source: AllAfrica News: Health and Medicine - October 1, 2013 Category: African Health Source Type: news

Gambia: GRCS Volunteers Trained On Community-Based First Aid, Health[Daily Observer]The Gambia Red Cross Society (GRCS) on Thursday organized a six-day capacity building programme on Community Based First Aid and Health (CBFAH) for its volunteers from the Kaniffing Municipality and the West Coast Region, at the Sanyang Nature Camp. The aim of the training is to capacitise the volunteers from the two regions on divergent issues relating to basic first aid and health care. In his opening remarks, the secretary general of the Gambia Red Cross Society Bai Cham, said the overall goal of the CB (Source: AllAfrica News: Health and Medicine)Source: AllAfrica News: Health and Medicine - October 1, 2013 Category: African Health Source Type: news

Gambia: CRR TAC Members, Local Authorities Sensitised On Polio Campaign[Daily Observer]Crr -The Regional Health Directorate of the Central River Region (CRR) in collaboration with the Health Education and Promotion Unit in Banjul on Wednesday sensitised the Technical Advisory Committee (TAC) members and Local Authorities on the upcoming polio campaign, which is slated from the 25th to 28th October 2013. (Source: AllAfrica News: Polio)Source: AllAfrica News: Polio - September 30, 2013 Category: Infectious Diseases Source Type: news

Gambia: Health Journalists Sensitised On HIV and Aids Terminologies[Foroyaa]The UNAIDs Country Office in Banjul on Tuesday, 10 September, 2013 organised a day's sensitization on the HIV and AIDs terminologies for members of the Association of Health Journalists (AOHJ) at the National Nutrition Agency (NaNA). Speaking on behalf of the UNAIDS Country Office, the Deputy Country Officer, Mr Lamin Camara, said this training came as a result of recommendations from previous trainings they organised for the health journalists. He said as health journalists, it is important that the messa (Source: AllAfrica News: HIV-Aids and STDs)Source: AllAfrica News: HIV-Aids and STDs - September 16, 2013 Category: Infectious Diseases Source Type: news

Gambia: Baby Found Dead Under the Rain[Daily Observer]The inhabitants of Latrikunda Sabiji in the Kanifing Municipality were on Saturday shocked by the discovery of the body of a new-born baby, who was apparently dumped to die under heavy downpour by her mother. The Daily Observer was informed that the baby, wrapped in a black cloth, was first seen by a man who was passing at around 5pm when it was raining. But upon seeing the helpless baby under the rains, according to the eyewitnesses, it was already too late for any support as the child was already dead. T (Source: AllAfrica News: Pregnancy and Childbirth)Source: AllAfrica News: Pregnancy and Childbirth - September 10, 2013 Category: OBGYN Source Type: news

MRC-LSHTM West African Global Health Research FellowshipsThe Medical Research Council Unit, The Gambia (&lsquo;the Unit&rsquo;), and the London School of Hygiene &amp; Tropical Medicine (&lsquo;the LSHTM&rsquo;) are seeking to appoint outstanding early career post-doctoral researchers to three new MRC-LSHTM West African Global Health Research Fellowships. Each Fellow will undertake an original research project in the West Africa region and the two institutions.
The scheme is open to West African and EU nationals (see Notes) who are active clinical or non-clinical researchers with up to three years postdoctoral research experience at the application deadline ...Source: Society for Endocrinology - September 6, 2013 Category: Endocrinology Source Type: news

Gambia: CRR TAC Members Sensitised On Rotavirus Vaccine[Daily Observer]The Health Communication and Education Unit in collaboration with the Expanded Programme on Immunization and the Central River Region (CRR) Regional Health Directorate under the Ministry of Health and Social Welfare recently sensitised the CRR Technical Advisory Committee (TAC) members on the facts about Rotavirus Vaccine. In his opening remarks on behalf of the CRR governor, the deputy governor, Alhaji Malang Saibo Camara, highlighted the importance of health to national development, adding that the vacci (Source: AllAfrica News: Health and Medicine)Source: AllAfrica News: Health and Medicine - September 4, 2013 Category: African Health Source Type: news

Gambia: GBOs Gives to Fajikunda Health Centre[Daily Observer]The Gambia Bureau of Statistic (GBoS) through the Lord Mayor of the Kanifing Municipal Council (KMC), Yankuba Colley, Thursday donated some valuable items to the Fajikunda Health Centre. The presentation ceremony was held at the KMC grounds in Kanifing. The donated items included uniforms for the nurses, mops, detergents, two gallons of paint, brushes, clock face and ceiling fans. Presenting the items, Sainey Jallow, a staff of GBoS, said his institution felt it necessary to provide support to the health c (Source: AllAfrica News: Health and Medicine)Source: AllAfrica News: Health and Medicine - August 28, 2013 Category: African Health Source Type: news

Gambia: Ministry Committed to Health Care Service Delivery for All - As It Receives UNFPA Support[Daily Observer]The minister of Health and Social Welfare has indicated that his Ministry is doing everything possible to making sure that every woman and child has access to health care service delivery, especially in maternal cases. Omar Sey made the remarks Tuesday while taking delivery of a double cabin pickup vehicle, laptops and accessories, contraceptive supplies and maternal life saving drugs, donated to his Ministry by the United Nations Fund for Population Affairs (UNFPA). The donation is part of the benefactor' (Source: AllAfrica News: Health and Medicine)Source: AllAfrica News: Health and Medicine - August 28, 2013 Category: African Health Source Type: news

Gambia: The Minister of Health Should Take Note[Foroyaa]Foroyaa has been reliably informed that chains are still being used in private mental health facilities to restrain mentally ill patients. This is against all health norms and practices. It is true that some mentally ill persons at the psychotic states could suffer from hallucination and delusions that make them behave like wild animals or even become violent. They could display more strength than their normal body size because of delusions of grandeur that makes them to think and act like giants or lions. (Source: AllAfrica News: Health and Medicine)Source: AllAfrica News: Health and Medicine - August 23, 2013 Category: African Health Source Type: news

Gambia: 'Gambia's EPI Among the Best'[Daily Observer]The permanent secretary at the Ministry of Health, Social Welfare and National Assembly Matters, has declared The Gambia's Expanded Programme on Immunisation as not only among the best, but also the most successful in Africa and the world at large. (Source: AllAfrica News: Health and Medicine)Source: AllAfrica News: Health and Medicine - August 16, 2013 Category: African Health Source Type: news

Gambia: Training for Community Based Distributors Ends[Daily Observer]The Gambia Family Planning Association (GFPA) in partnership with United Nations Fund for Population Affairs (UNFPA) Friday concluded a three-day training programme for 130 Community Based Distributors at the Friendship Hostel at the Independence Stadium in Bakau. (Source: AllAfrica News: Health and Medicine)Source: AllAfrica News: Health and Medicine - August 5, 2013 Category: African Health Source Type: news

Gambia: Ministers, Cuban Diplomat Tour Medical Initiatives in Rural Gambia[Daily Observer]A high-powered delegation led by the ministers of Health and Social Welfare, Higher Education, Research, Science and Technology and the outgoing Cuban Ambassador to The Gambia, recently wrapped-up a three-day tour of provincial regions of the country where they assessed the Community-based Medical Programme (CBMP) currently running in some health facilities. (Source: AllAfrica News: Health and Medicine)Source: AllAfrica News: Health and Medicine - August 5, 2013 Category: African Health Source Type: news

Gambia: VP - Exclusive Breastfeeding Can Boost Mothers' Immune System[Daily Observer]The vice president and minister of Women Affairs has spoken about the enormous importance of exclusive breastfeeding, saying the practice can boost mothers' immune system. She also noted that the practice further saves the mother the money, energy and time, delays new pregnancy and protect her from breast and ovarian cancers. (Source: AllAfrica News: Pregnancy and Childbirth)Source: AllAfrica News: Pregnancy and Childbirth - August 2, 2013 Category: OBGYN Source Type: news

Gambia: Multi-Million Euro Project Seeks to Enhance Food Security, Reduce Poverty[Daily Observer]A Millennium Development Goal 1c (MDG1C) Initiative Project, financed by the European Union through the United Nations World Food Programme (WFP) and the Food and Agriculture Organisation (FAO) at the tune of Euro 7.6M is poised to improve food security through crop production intensification and school feeding programme, as well as reducing poverty in the selected intervention districts of The Gambia. (Source: AllAfrica News: Health and Medicine)Source: AllAfrica News: Health and Medicine - August 2, 2013 Category: African Health Source Type: news

Gambia: 'HIV1 Relatively Low in the Gambia'[Daily Observer]The West Coast Region one (WCR1) health director has said that though the prevalence rate of HIV1 which stood at 1.6% in The Gambia is comparatively low, there should be no room for complacency. Alagie saine said the UNAIDS's latest report shows that since the beginning of the AIDs pandemic millions of individuals worldwide have been infected with HIV. By the end of 2012, the report added, more than 33 million were infected and closed to 3 million people have died of AIDS related illnesses. Saine made thes (Source: AllAfrica News: HIV-Aids and STDs)Source: AllAfrica News: HIV-Aids and STDs - July 30, 2013 Category: Infectious Diseases Source Type: news

Gambia: The Scourge of Malaria[The Point]Floods in and around the country these days are a clear indication that people should be prepared to fight against the killer-disease, Malaria, which becomes most prevalent during the rainy season. (Source: AllAfrica News: Malaria)Source: AllAfrica News: Malaria - July 30, 2013 Category: Infectious Diseases Source Type: news

Gambia: More Kombo Community Leaders Resolve FGM Is Harmful[The Point]The Gambia Committee on Traditional Practices Affecting the Health of Women and Children (Gamcotrap), with support from Save the Children International, continues to reach out to the District Authorities in the Kombos in the West Coast Region of The Gambia. (Source: AllAfrica News: Health and Medicine)Source: AllAfrica News: Health and Medicine - July 12, 2013 Category: African Health Source Type: news